One of the best days ever.

I'm sure you all already heard that I got my mission call through every social media device on this planet, but I haven't blogged yet, so bear with me one more time please! 

I'm going to the Columbia South Carolina Mission!

So good at staged photos #professional

I got my call on April 11, 2013 and to say that I was excited is an understatement. Opening my call was awesome, I was surrounded by people that I love and that are such tender mercies in my life. To be honest, I had a feeling that I was going east coast english speaking, so when I read my call, I had this peace come over me. I felt so much love, it was a bit overwhelming. To come this far through everything and to be able to go on a mission is the most beautiful gift that my Father in Heaven has given me. I love this gospel and my Savior. I cannot wait to share it!

Here are some facts about it.

1) The state motto is, "While I breathe, I hope". I love that.
2)  I have no idea. 
3) That one guy from the Bachelorettes dad is my mission president.
4) I report August 21st!

I cannot WAIT to go!

Happy Easter.

John 11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

My heart is so full today with love for my Savior. I am so blessed by Him that it is a bit overwhelming at times. I remember sitting at Stake Conference and Elder Callister called me up and told me to speak on the spot. As I was praying like my life depended on it on the way up to the podium, I just thought about the time I was in the car with my best friend KD and just started crying because of the overwhelming blessings God has given me throughout my trial. Even though my trial has been mentally and physically exhausting, my Heavenly Father has blessed me more than I think I have been tried. I felt so undeserving, but also felt so much love. That is exactly what I spoke about. The Atonement is a gift that can change the hearts and nature of man. It's so beautiful and sacred. I am so thankful for a Savior on whom I can rely when the times get rough and when they go great.

On another note....

MY CALL COMES THIS WEEK! Honestly waiting for my call has given me the gift of patience.

Decisions

Life is full of crazy decisions and I say that lovingly. Lately I have had to make some huge decisions that will alter my life for the better. One being deciding to serve a mission, my papers go in this Sunday! I remember last October I prayed and fasted about going on a mission and got the answer "prepare for a mission". After that, a lot of things were on my mind,  I then felt impressed not to put my papers in yet at the end of November. After that decision, I actually really started preparing for a mission without even realizing it. I would get up an hour earlier so that I could study for an hour and my prayers became dear to me again. When I came back up to school, it got even better. One day on February 11th, I felt prompted to go to the temple early in the morning like at 9 (THAT IS EARLY FOR ME #judgeme) and as I was walking there, I was wearing a long skirt and thought "I feel like a sister missionary, how rad!" (cheesy but it's what I thought) When I went inside the temple and was waiting in the chapel for my turn, the word "mission" came into my mind and I got an overwhelming feeling that it was my time to go. You guys, it was the most amazing feeling in the world!! I am so serious. It was imprinted on my heart that this was what I was supposed to do. Right after I got outside the temple, I called my parents and told them. They are stoked. My paperwork has taken longer then expected, but everything happens for a reason.. I know that wherever I am sent, I have been prepared to go to. I love my Savior and my Father. I know that this work is REAL and I cannot wait to be apart of it.



fyi. these photos were taken by a pretty lady named Brooke.
She's hilarious and you all would love her. Thanks for making me look sweet hunnay!

What.

Let me give you the deets of my extravagant life.

1) I am back at BYU-I
2) I have the best roommates ever.
3) My best friend enters the MTC....tomorrow
4) Don't know what I am going to do about #3
5) I love EVERYONE HERE
6) My english class will be the death of me
7) I love God's tender mercies

I really do love being back in Idaho. I just have realized that I need to be better at this blogging thang. It's sort of a release for me, so mama is gonna try to blog at least ONCE a week (I know...huge goal).

Thoughts on my mind

I've been thinking a lot lately about how we go through life and have trials. No one is exempt from them and no trial is not for our own benefit. Being wounded throughout this life is actually something that I cherish and value. I was reading in Alma 58 the other day and it was talking about the 2,000 stripling warriors and how faithful they were. Never were there more great young men, but even with that they were still wounded. Through that trial they were still valiant and steadfast. Life is bound to have spiritual and emotional "wounds", but if we remain faithful, these wounds will be ones we keep to remind us how far we've come and all that we have learned.

This quote hit me hard:

"However dim our days may seem, they have been a lot darker for the Savior of the world. As a reminder of those days, Jesus has chosen, even in a resurrected, otherwise perfect body, to retain for the benefit of His disciples the wounds in His hands and in His feet and in His side- signs, if you will, that painful things happen even to the pure and the perfect; signs, if you will, that pain in this world is NOT evidence that God doesn't love you; signs, if you will, that problems pass and happiness can be ours. Remind others that it is the wounded Christ who is the Captain of our souls, He who yet bears the scars of our forgiveness, the lesions of His love and humility, the torn flesh of obedience and sacrifice" - President Harold B. Lee


Apologies, this is just me rambling!

This is why....

.....all the boys come a flockin' because of my wet hair, messed up ankle, that I own huge cans of pumpkin, and that I am pumpkin square QUEEN.

I lied..

.....I do love Idaho. Truly, I do. It has challenged me in so many ways and I know that the Lord knew that. Trials are supposed to stretch and challenge us, and I am so grateful for it. These past six months here have held some of the best and some of the most challenging moments of my life. I think I have grown so much more in these past months  than any before in my recovery. All I can say is that I am so grateful for the Lord's tender mercies in my life, His constant guidance, and His love that I feel each and every single day. I know why I got this trial. I know the things I have learned from it are to benefit those around me, not just myself. I realized that especially serving in relief society. I never realized how many college girls struggle so badly and that makes me so grateful for what I have been through, knowing that I am able to help them. To be honest though, I think they've helped me more than I have ever helped them. I love all these girls with my whole heart and am in debt to them. All I know is that the Atonement is real, it changes the nature of man. Sorry, I'm rambling children. Anyways, I think I shall tell you why I love Idaho SO DANG MUCH.

I like to go on drives and Rexburg doesn't disappoint. 

SERIOUSLY? 

I spy....

Honestly, I don't know what I would do without these girls. Also,
We like to go tanning in the church parking lot.

Katie likes to sniff me.

I was so lucky to be able to go home two weekends ago to see two of my
 best guy friends from high school come home from their missions! 

I love them. Zack (left) went to Zimbabwe and Drew (right) went
to Guam.

I especially love them when they steal my baby...oh I mean phone.

Tadd here loves Shamrock Chocolate Milk and I was lucky enough to buy
him/watch his first sip in two years! I know, I'm lucky.

We then went to the strip for a little R&R....jk it was Memorial weekend and
everyone and their mother wanted to party it up with dem margaritas. 

Millie Mecham...cutest girl ever.

I love visiting my family. I am pretty sure I have the best one ever.

I love her. Didn't know my best friend was going to be 16.

This here is my new roommate Ash, since April. Honestly this girl is my long lost
sister and a BEAUTIFUL one at that. I love her.

This is what attractive looks like when driving to Vegas at
6 in the morning.

This is one of my good friends up here at school, Skyler. He just
got his mission call to Dallas, Texas. Making mama so so proud.

I love them lots.

This is one of three bathroom breaks I took while studying for 6.5
hours at the i-center on a Saturday. Holler.

Guys, I finally ate taco bell.